EXPLORING SCOPELLO WITH HOTEL TORRE BENNISTRA

Scopello: The history and atmosphere of the ancient village in the province of Trapani

Scopello preserves the rural essence of a tight-knit community: narrow lanes, cobblestone streets once traversed by wagons, and a hill that gazes out to sea.
This village, a gem on the west coast of Sicily, part of Castellammare del Golfo in the Trapani province, seems suspended in time. Its houses and pathways exude an age-old allure, creating a magical ambiance where one can discover pergolas draped with vines, traditional dry stone walls, and characteristic shops that line the strolls. Visitors can unwind, savoring the area's authentic offerings like cunzatu bread, cassatelle, and mulberry granita.

Scopello is centered around a magnificent 18th-century baglio, erected atop a cliff that commands views of the sea, the tuna fishery, and the faraglioni. The Baglio di Scopello is a quadrangular complex featuring an arched entryway, dry stone walls, a watering place, and a grand, ancient eucalyptus that towers over the courtyard, now home to cafes, eateries, and boutiques, as well as our Torre Bennistra hotel and restaurant.

FROM TUNA FISHING TO INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN MOVIES

Scopello, its past and present

The village’s name derives from the Latin "scopulus," meaning rock. It is situated on the site of an ancient Roman settlement, Cetaria, a location noted on numerous historical maps alongside the venerable cities of Trapani and Erice.
Only a few remnants of the ancient Cetaria remain, particularly from the Roman era near the Scopello tuna fishery, along the coast stretching from Guidaloca to Cala Alberelli. Tuna fishing was a primary economic activity in the region until the 1980s. The Scopello tuna fishery and its renowned sea stacks gained worldwide fame as a filming location for the Hollywood movie Ocean's Twelve.
For those wishing to discover this enchanting sea independently, boat or dinghy rentals are available at the port of Castellammare del Golfo for visits to the Zingaro Nature Reserve.

DISCOVER THE TONNARA OF SCOPELLO

DISCOVER THE ZINGARO RESERVE